Laois Government TD ‘absolutely opposed’ to 900 houses on Portlaoise land

Public land in Portlaoise that’s been earmarked for hundreds of homes in a €300 million investment is not suitable for housing, according to Laois TD Séan Fleming.

The Government TD was commenting on a recent report from the Land Development Agency (LDA), which listed HSE lands in Portlaoise as having potential for about 900 social and affordable new homes.

The Fianna Fáil TD spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live about the proposal for the land attached to St Fintan’s Hospital campus.

He said he was “absolutely opposed” to the development. He insisted that the land should be used for community purposes.

“It is one of the few green areas in the town, and it can be developed for community use,” he said.

He believed that a balance needs to be found between development and amenity use of land, and the land could be developed for public amenity purposes.

“We have got to have some green space for community facilities in the town,” he said.

He agreed that the property is big and in State ownership but, unlike other towns, house construction is already advancing in the town.
“The one thing Portlaoise is not short of, and it’s unique in Ireland, is new houses being built,” he said.

He said some 2,500 homes have been built in Laois in recent years, meaning a population rise 7,000. He added that Portlaoise is one of the fastest-growing towns in Ireland, with town centre housing developments also being delivered.

“The town is not short of housing being built. Builders are building hundreds of houses and they are not short of land for housing, and more land will be zoned,” he said.

He believes more amenity space must be provided, with the population set to hit 30,000. He believed there is potential for the site to be used as a location for a sports centre rather than locating it on the outskirts.

The LDA says in its Report on Relevant Public Land from the Land Development Agency that the land between the busy Dublin and Stradbally Roads is not identified in the Government's Housing Strategy, nor is it zoned for residential purposes by Laois County Council. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Various housing developments in Portlaoise.

The LDA says any housing development would have to be subject to an overarching spatial framework that would include HSE requirements to provide additional facilities on the land.

Dep Fleming proposed instead that the HSE should work with Laois County Council to develop a strategy that would focus on its future use for amenities.

“Houses are the easiest option (for the land). If there are hundreds of houses built, it will be gone from benefiting the people.
“If Portlaoise were a town that didn’t have houses built on it, there might be a case for it, but Portlaoise is not short of new housing,” he said.

READ ALSO: Shocked Laois councillor opposes housing plan

The LDA analysis reviewed 55 towns or cities with a population exceeding 10,000 people. Public land deemed relevant for consideration for housing is all land within a town or city that is owned by a public body.

The LDA identified parcels of land with the potential for affordable and social housing in 26 of the towns and cities, with one site identified in Portlaoise. The land is owned by the HSE and adjoins St Fintan's Hospital.

The report says that the 28-hectare site is classed as being 'moderately constrained' for housing but has the potential to yield between 680 and 960 new homes.

In recent times, the HSE has developed a car park on the land off the Block Road. The new Kolbe Special School is also being built on the site.

The recommendation is to the Minister for Housing.

The LDA says it is a commercial, State-sponsored body been created to coordinate land in public control to provide affordable and social homes and build communities across the nation.